Railroad-switch.



A. G. JOHN$0N, RAILROAD SWIIGH.

APPLICATION FILED MAY 13, 1912.

1,095,639. Patented May 5, 1914.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

A. fife/032mm,

Witnesses Inventor Attorneys A. G. JOHNSON. I

RAILROAD SWITCH.

APPLICATION FILED MAY 13, 1912.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

Patented May 5, 1914.

11. fJakzzJalz, Inventor Attorr reys ALBERT G. JOHNSON, OF HUNTINGTON, INDIANA.

RAILROAD-SWITCH.

Specification of Letters Batent.

Patented May 5, 1914.

Application filed May 13, 1912. Serial No. 697,056.

To (ZZZ whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, ALBERT Gr. JOHNSON, a citizen of the United States, residing at Huntington, in the county of Huntington and State of Indiana, have invented a new and useful Railroad-Switch of which the following is a specification.

The present invention relates to improvements in railroad switches, the primary object of the invention being the provision of a spring and electro-magnetically actuated switch, so constructed and arranged with relation to a trolley system as to permit of the actuation thereof from the car, due to the shunting of the traflic current to the electromagnet and a mechanism carried by the'car and under the control of the motorman or conductor, the switch point being normally locked due to a spring returned mechanism and thrown into the opposite position due to the energization of the electromagnet, and while the car is passing over the portion of the track and switch containing the shunt connection for the electro-magnet.

A further object of the present invention is a novel form of switch actuating mechanism whereby the switch point is locked in closed position due to a novel form of looking mechanism, said locking mechanism being released at the initial movement of the operating mechanism due to the energization of the electromagnet, the final movement thereof moving the switch point out of rail continuity or connection and opening the switch, said switch points being held open while the car is passing over the shunt connection for the electromagnet, the breaking of the shunt permitting the spring to return the switch to closed and locked position automatically.

lVith the foregoing and other objects in view which will appear as the description proceeds, the invention resides in the combination and arrangement of parts and in the details of construction hereinafter described and claimed, it being understood that changes in the precise embodiment of the invention herein disclosed can be made within the scope of what is claimed without departing from the spirit of the invention.

In the drawings-Figure 1 is a top plan view of the main rails and the switch at a siding of an overhead trolley system. Fig. 2 is an enlarged detail sectional View through the main rail and one switch point, showing the shunt rail and also diagrammatically the electromagnet control, the parts being in the position they assume when the electromagnet is deenergized. Fig. 3 is a similar view with the parts in the position they assume when the eleotromagnet is energized. Fig. 4 is a top plan view with the parts in the position as shown in Fig. 3. Fig. 5 is an enlarged detail view of the circuit closing means carried by the car. Fig. 6 is a diagram of the electrical circuit for controlling the electromagnet of the switch.

Referring to the drawings, the numerals l, 2 and 3 designate the respective main rails, a portion of the rail 3 constituting a portion of the siding, and interposed between the respective main rails l and 3 and connected in the main rail 2, are the two switch points 4 and 4:, which are connected together as is usual, fo movement in unison by means of tie rods 5 and 6 respectively.

The tie rod 6, as clearly shown in Figs. 2 and 3, is provided with the bracket 7 which is connected to the switch point 4, while connected to one side of the rail 1 and extending the desired distance upon the sides of the switch point to permit of the switch points being properly actuated before the entrance of the front wheels of the motor car in engagement with the switch points of the portions of the main rail adjacent thereto, is a shunt plate 8, which is insulated, as at 9, from the main rail 1 and is secured to the base flange of the main rail 1, so as to be presented at all times in the position as clearly shown in Figs. 1, 2, 3 and 4.

As shown in the electrical diagram in Fig. 6, a conductor 10 is led from the overhead trolley wire T and is connected to the electromagnet 11, while a conductor 12 is led from the electromagnet 11 to the shunt plate 8, which as before stated is insulated from the base of the rail 1 by means of the insulation 9 and therefore provides an open circuit between the plate 8 and the rail 1.

It will therefore be seen that in order to properly energize the electromagnet 11 to actuate the switch, as will presently appear, means must be provided to bridge the rail 1 and plate 8 and thus close a circuit from the trolley T, conductor 10, electromagnet 11, conductor 12, the plate 8 and the rail 1, and in order to do this, the metal brush 13, of suflicient width to span and engage the rail 1 and plate 8, is provided. Two of these are connected to the arms of the rock shaft 1 1 which is journaled below the platform of the car G, thus providing a means to engage the respective plates 8 whether upon the right or left of the main line. The arm 15 of the rock shaft 14: is operably connected through the medium of a link 16 to the manually operated lever 17, whereby the motorman may when desiring to actuate the switch, operate the lever 17 to throw the proper bridging brush 13 into engagement with the rail 1 and plate 8 thus closing the circuit as before described to energize the electromagnet 11 and operate the switch points t and a.

A lever 18 is properly connected to the cores or armatures of the electromagnet 11 and is disposed to actuate the rod 19', which is connected to one end of the tie rod 6 and permitted a slight movement thereupon before actuating said rod 6. A spring 20 is provided to act in opposition to the cores or armature of the electromagnet and cause the rod to assume the position as shown in Fig. 2, when the electromagnet is deenergized.

The switch actuating and locking means consists of a plate 21 which is connected to a cross tie 22, upon one face thereof and is provided with an aperture 23, the purpose of which will presently appear. Mounted for a rocking movement between the adjacent cross ties and having one end journaled in the plate 20', is a shaft 28 provided with an abutment 24:, and having keyed thereon the locking plate 25. This locking plate is provided with an aperture 26 which is disposed to normally register with the aperture of the plate 20, while the opposite end is provided with the latch 27 to normally engage the switch point 1 and thus lock it against the main rail 1, as clearly shown in Fig. 2.

Journaled in the lug 28 is a bell crank lever 29, whose free terminal is disposed to enter the apertures 26 and 23 and thus lock the locking plate 25 in the position as shown in Fig. 2.

The rod 19 is provided with the upstanding arm 30, whose free end is disposed to engage the abutment 24: and at the proper time impart a rocking movement to the shaft 23 so as to release the hooked end 27 from the switch point 4 and thus permit the switch point 4: to assume the position as shown in Figs. 3 and 1 when the electromagnet 11 is energized. Upon the inner face of the rod 6 is provided a cam 81, which just previous to the engagement of the arm 30 with the abutment 24 engages the lower end of the bell crank lever 29 and thus releases its other end from the aperture of the locking member 25 and the plate 20. Carried by the tie rod 6 upon the upper face thereof is an abutment 33 which after the hooked terminal 27 has been disengaged from the switch point t is engaged by the extreme lower end of the rod or plate 19 and the continned movement of the rod or plate 19 will actuate the tie rod 6 and throw the switch points t and 4; from the position as shown in Figs. 1 and 2 to that shown in Figs. 3 and 4.

As long as the brush 13 is in engagement with the main rail 1 and plate 8, the circuit to the electromagnet 11 will be closed, as in Fig. 3, and the removal of the brush 18 from the plate 8 and main rail 1, due to the actuation of the lever 17 or the passage of the car beyond the plate 8 Wlll open the circuit of the electromagnet 11 and will thus permit the usual spring to return the switch points, from the position shown in Figs. 3 and t to that shown in Fig. 1. The spring 33 at this junction will actuate the bell crank lever 29 and cause its locking end to enter the apertures of the locking member 25 and plate 20 and thus hold the locking member 25 in the position as shown in Fig. 2 with the switch point a in engagement with the rail 1.

From the foregoing description taken in connection with the drawings, it is evident that the switch points are normally locked when the electromagnets are deenergized, and that when the electromagnet is energized, a succession of operations are performed which actuate the locking devices primarily and just previous to the movement of the switch points due to the electromagnet.

While herein is described the invention in detail, and. is illustrated a combination embodying various features. which may at times be used to advantage, it is not the de sire or intention of claimant to be limited to the particular arrangement shown, or to an arangement embodying the various auxiliary features except as particularly pointed out in the appended claims.

What is claimed is:

1. The combination with two switch points and the main rail adjacent to a switch, of a switch point. actuating mechanism, having a tie rod connected to both switch points, a locking member normally biased to locking position for locking one pointin one extreme position. a spring actuated auxiliary lock for locking the locking member in such position, and means connected to the tie rod, locking member and auxiliary lock for releasing the auxiliary lock, and locking mem her and operating the tie rod in succession when the parts are operated. to move the points in the opposite direction.

2. The combination with two switch points and the main rail adjacent to a switch, of a switch point actuating mechanism, having a tie rod connected to both switch points, a locking member normally biased to locking position and for locking one point in one extreme position, a spring actuated auxiliary lock for locking the locking member in such posi-' tion, and electromagnetically controlled and spring returned means connected to the tie rod, locking member and auxiliary lock for releasing the auxiliary lock, and locking member and operating the tie rod in succession when the electromagnet is energized to move the switch to the other extreme po sition.

3. The combination with two switch points, and the main rails adjacent the switch, of a switch point actuating mechanism, having a tie rod connected to both switch points, a locking member normally biased to locking position and for locking the switch points in one extreme position, a spring actuated auxiliary lock for the looking member, a rod disposed for sliding movement relatively to the tie rod, coacting means carried by said rod, auxiliary lock, locking member and tie rod for causing the actu ation in succession of the auxiliary lock, locking member and switch points to move the switch point to the opposite extreme position, and means connected to the last mentioned rod for operating the same.

4. The combination with two switch points, and the main rails adjacent the switch, of a switch point actuating mechanism, having a tie rod connected to both switch points, a locking member normally biased to locking position and for locking one switch point in one extreme position, a spring actuated auxiliary lock for the looking member, a rod disposed for sliding movementrelatively to the tie rod, coacting means carried by said rod, auxiliary lock, locking member and tie rod for causing the actuation in succession of the auxiliary lock, locking member and switch point to move the switch points to the opposite extreme position, and an electromagnetically and spring actuated means connected to said last mentioned rod for operating the rod and holding the switch points in the other extreme position.

5. The combination with two switch points, and the main rails adjacent the switch, of a switch point actuating mechanism, having a tie rod connected to both switch points, a locking member normally biased to locking )osition and for locking one switch point in one extreme position, a spring actuated auxiliary lock for the looking member, a rod disposed for sliding movement relatively to the tie rod, coacting means carried by said rod, auxiliary lock, locking member and tie rod for causing the actuation in succession of the auxiliary lock, locking member and switch points to move the switch points to the opposite extreme position, a spring connected to the last rod for exerting a tension to hold the locking member and auxiliary lock in switch locking position, and an electromagnet operably connected to said last mentioned rod for operating the rod to successively release the auxiliary lock, and locking member and to actu ate the tie rod to move the switch points in the opposite extreme position.

6. The combination with two switch points and the main rail of a switch, of a switch point actuating mechanism, a tie rod connected to the switch points, a rock shaft, a locking member carried by the rock shaft and normally biased to lock the switch points in one extreme position, a spring re turned auxiliary lock disposed to lock the locking member in switch point engaging position, another rod disposed in operable relation to the tie rod and capable of a limited movement relatively thereto, a plurality of projections carried by the tie rod and disposed in operable relation to the auxiliary lock, rock shaft and said last mentioned rod, a spring connected to said last mentioned rod for normally holding the locking member and lock in locked position with the switch points in one extreme position, and electromagnetically actuated means connected to said last mentioned rod for operating the rod to successively release the auxiliary lock, locking member and to actuate the tie rod to move the switch points to the opposite extreme position.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing as my own, I have hereto affixed my signa ture in the presence of two witnesses.

ALBERT G. JOHNSON.

Witnesses:

H. E. Rosnnnoucrr, C. H. OUTSHALL.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents, Washington, D. G. 

